Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer as well as promote brain development among infants and children. This study was carried out to compare total protein, fat and omega-3 fatty acids content of raw and pressurized fish of P. pangasius (yellowtail catfish) and H. macrura (long tail shad). The fish was cooked using pressure cooker for six minute to be pressurized. The protein content was determined by using Kjedahl method while total fat was determined using solvent extraction using chloroform and methanol. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were prepared by a direct transesterification method, and quantified by gas chromatography using external standard. Results showed that marine fish H. macrura (long tail shad) had higher content (p < 0.05) of protein (18.30 ± 0.040 g/100 g), fat (10.965 ± 1.610 g/100 g), EPA (11.83 ± 0.02 g/100 g) and DHA (5.96 ± 0.31 g/100 g) compared to freshwater fish P. pangasius (yellowtail catfish). The protein content of pressurized fish was higher compare to raw fish, but there was no difference in total fat and omega-3 fatty acids content between raw and pressurized of freshwater fish P. pangasius and marine fish, H. macrura. In conclusion, marine fish are better source of protein, fat and omega-3 content, while pressurized fish shown to have comparable amount of protein, fat and omega-3 fatty acids content with raw fish. The result obtained assist the consumers to prepare a healthy menu in order to retain the protein and omega-3 fatty acids content of fish through healthy way of cooking.
Keriorrhoea is the involuntarily passing of orange oil per rectum. One of us (PMB) had the misfortune to experience this symptom, together with considerable gastrointestinal disturbances for a prolonged period of time after consumption of a deep sea fish, orange roughy, which is rich in liquid wax esters (LWEs). This paper presents a summary of available evidence concerned with the physiology and pathology of ingestion of LWEs, which can enter the human diet in substantial amounts from consumption of several species of deep-sea fish. LWEs are poorly digested and absorbed by the human body. They generally cause keriorrhoea when ingested deliberately or accidentally. Jojoba oil, which is a plant LWE, together with certain nutritional products (e.g. olestra) and medical (e.g. Orlistat) which are not LWEs may mimic the effects of LWEs, and cause similar gastrointestinal disturbances. This paper discusses the potential effects of LWEs as components of gastrointestinal micelles, and predicts that the orange oil which is leaked from a bout of keriorrhoea may contain considerable volumes of triacylglycerols (TAGs).
Despite the public health importance of Culex pipiens pipiens, their resistance to pirimiphos-methyl insecticides has not been explored enough. Late third and early fourth larvae of Culex pipiens pipiens were collected from three localities between 2003 and 2005 in Northern and Southern Tunisia. All bioassays were carried out using pirimiphosmethyl and propoxur insecticides. Populations of Culex pipiens pipiens were susceptible, moderate and resistant to pirimiphos-methyl insecticide. Resistance to this compound ranged from 2.62 in sample # 2 to 19.9 in sample # 1. The moderate resistance (5.25) was recorded in sample # 3. Synergist's tests showed that the resistance to pirimiphos-methyl was not affected by detoxification enzymes. However, biochemical assays showed the involvement of both metabolic (esterases) and target site (insensitive acetylcholinesterase) resistance mechanisms. The highest frequencies of the resistant phenotypes ([RS] and [RR]) (<0.74) were detected in the most resistant samples (#1). Four esterases enzymes including C1 encoded by the Est-1 locus and three esterases encoded by the Ester super locus: A2-B2, A4-B4 (or A5-B5, which has the same electrophoretic mobility) and B12 were detected. The highest (0.61) and the lowest (0.22) frequencies of these esterases were recorded in samples # 1 (Sidi Hcine) and # 2 (El Fahs) which recorded the highest and the lowest level of resistance, respectively. Monitoring of insecticide resistance should be evaluated regularly for management of vector control.
Jatropha meal produced from the kernel of Jatropha curcas Linn. grown in Malaysia contains phorbol esters (PEs). The potential benefits of PEs present in the meal as anticancer agent are still not well understood. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic effects and mode of actions of PEs isolated from Jatropha meal against breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. Isolated PEs inhibited cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner of both MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines with the IC₅₀ of 128.6 ± 2.51 and 133.0 ± 1.96 µg PMA equivalents/mL respectively, while the values for the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) as positive control were 114.7 ± 1.73 and 119.6 ± 3.73 µg/mL, respectively. Microscopic examination showed significant morphological changes that resemble apoptosis in both cell lines when treated with PEs and PMA at IC₅₀ concentration after 24 h. Flow cytometry analysis and DNA fragmentation results confirmed the apoptosis induction of PEs and PMA in both cell lines. The PEs isolated from Jatropha meal activated the PKC-δ and down-regulated the proto-oncogenes (c-Myc, c-Fos and c-Jun). These changes probably led to the activation of Caspase-3 protein and apoptosis cell death occurred in MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines upon 24 h treatment with PEs and PMA. Phorbol esters of Jatropha meal were found to be promising as an alternative to replace the chemotherapeutic drugs for cancer therapy.
The reduction of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) ester formation in refined palm oil was achieved by incorporation of additional processing steps in the physical refining process to remove chloroester precursors prior to the deodorization step. The modified refining process was optimized for the least 3-MCPD ester formation and acceptable refined palm oil quality using response surface methodology (RSM) with five processing parameters: water dosage, phosphoric acid dosage, degumming temperature, activated clay dosage, and deodorization temperature. The removal of chloroester precursors was largely accomplished by increasing the water dosage, while the reduction of 3-MCPD esters was a compromise in oxidative stability and color of the refined palm oil because some factors such as acid dosage, degumming temperature, and deodorization temperature showed contradictory effects. The optimization resulted in 87.2% reduction of 3-MCPD esters from 2.9 mg/kg in the conventional refining process to 0.4 mg/kg, with color and oil stability index values of 2.4 R and 14.3 h, respectively.
The purpose of this study was to select appropriate surfactants or blends of surfactants to study the ternary phase diagram behavior of newly introduced palm kernel oil esters.
The kinetics of wax ester synthesis from oleic acid and oleyl alcohol using immobilized lipase from Candida antartica as catalyst was studied with different types of impeller (Rushton turbine and AL-hydrofoil) to create different mixing conditions in 2l stirred tank reactor. The effects of catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, and impeller tip speed on the synthesis were also evaluated. Rushton turbine impeller exhibited highest conversion rate at lower impeller tip speed as compared to AL-hydrofoil impeller. A second-order reversible kinetic model from single progress curve for the prediction of fractional conversion at given reaction time was proposed and the corresponding kinetic parameter values were calculated by non-linear regression method. The results from the simulation using the proposed model showed satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. Activation energy shows a value of 21.77 Kcal/mol. The thermodynamic parameters of the process, enthalpy and entropy, were 21.15 Kcal/mol and 52.07 cal/mol.K, respectively.
The influence of human salivary enzymes on palm wines' odorant concentrations were investigated by the application of aroma extracts dilution analysis (AEDA) and by the calculation of odour activity values (OAVs), respectively. The odorants were quantified by means of stable isotope dilution assays (SIDA), and the degradation profiles of odorants by human saliva were also studied. Results revealed 46 odour-active compounds in the flavour dilution (FD) factor range of 4-256, and all were subsequently identified. Of the 46 odorants, 41 were identified in the Elaeis guineensis wine, 36 in Raphia hookeri wine and 29 in Borassus flabellifer wine. Among the odorants, the highest FD-factors were obtained from acetoin, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine. Among the 13 potent odorants identified, five aroma compounds are reported here as important contributors to palm wine aroma, namely 3-isobutyl-2-methoxy-pyrazine, acetoin, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, 3-methylbutylacetate and ethyl hexanoate. Meanwhile, salivary enzymic degradation of odorants was more pronounced among the aldehydes, esters and thiols.
Effect of isolated astaxanthin (ASX) and astaxanthin esters (ASXEs) from green microalga-Haematococcus pluvialis on hepatotoxicity and antioxidant activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced toxicity in rats was compared with synthetic astaxanthin (SASX). ASX, ASXEs, and SASX, all dissolved in olive oil, fed to rats with 100 and 250 μg/kg b.w for 14 days. They were evaluated for their hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity by measuring appropriate enzymes. Among the treated groups, the SGPT, SGOT and ALP levels were decreased by 2, 2.4, and 1.5 fold in ASXEs treated group at 250 μg/Kg b.w. when compared to toxin group. Further, antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidase levels were estimated in treated groups, their levels were reduced by 30-50 % in the toxin group, however these levels restored by 136.95 and 238.48 % in ASXEs treated group at 250 μg/kg. The lipid peroxidation was restored by 5.2 and 2.8 fold in ASXEs and ASX treated groups at 250 μg/kg. The total protein, albumin and bilirubin contents were decreased in toxin group, whereas normalized in ASXEs treated group. These results indicates that ASX and ASXEs have better hepatoprotection and antioxidant activity, therefore can be used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications and also extended to use as food colorant.
Plastic or microplastic pollution is a global threat affecting ecosystems, with the current generation reaching as much as 400 metric tons per/year. Soil ecosystems comprising agricultural lands act as microplastics sinks, though the impact could be unexpectedly more far-reaching. This is troubling as most plastic forms, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), formed from polymerized terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) monomers, are non-biodegradable environmental pollutants. The current approach to use mechanical, thermal, and chemical-based treatments to reduce PET waste remains cost-prohibitive and could potentially produce toxic secondary pollutants. Thus, better remediation methods must be developed to deal with plastic pollutants in marine and terrestrial environments. Enzymatic treatments could be a plausible avenue to overcome plastic pollutants, given the near-ambient conditions under which enzymes function without the need for chemicals. The discovery of several PET hydrolases, along with further modification of the enzymes, has considerably aided efforts to improve their ability to degrade the ester bond of PET. Hence, this review emphasizes PET-degrading microbial hydrolases and their contribution to alleviating environmental microplastics. Information on the molecular and degradation mechanisms of PET is also highlighted in this review, which might be useful in the future rational engineering of PET-hydrolyzing enzymes.
Dye-ligand affinity chromatography in a stirred fluidized bed has been developed for the rapid recovery of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) from highly turbid baker's yeast cell homogenate in a single step. The most suitable dye, namely Reactive Orange 4, in its optimal immobilized concentration of 8.78 mg/mL was immobilized onto high-density STREAMLINE matrix. To further examine optimal adsorption and elution conditions, the enzyme recovery operation was carried out using unclarified cell homogenates in stirred fluidized bed system. Aiming to develop a non-specific eluent, namely NaCl, to effectively elute the MDH adsorbed, direct recovery of MDH from highly turbid cell homogenate (50% w/v) in a stirred fluidized bed adsorption system was performed. The proposed system successfully achieved a recovery yield of 73.6% and a purification factor of 73.5 in a single step by using 0.6 M NaCl as an eluent at a high liquid velocity of 200 cm/h.
An approach was made to enhance the halophilic lipase secretion by a newly isolated moderate halophilic Marinobacter litoralis SW-45, through the statistical optimization of Plackett-Burman (PB) experimental design and the Face Centered Central Composite Design (FCCCD). Initially, PB statistical design was used to screen the medium components and process parameters, while the One-factor-at-a-time technique was availed to find the optimum level of significant parameters. It was found that MgSO4 · 7H2 O, NaCl, agitation speed, FeSO4 · 7H2 O, yeast extract and KCl positively influence the halophilic lipase production, whereas temperature, carbon source (maltose), inducer (olive oil), inoculum size, and casein-peptone had a negative effect on enzyme production. The optimum level of halophilic lipase production was obtained at 3.0 g L-1 maltose, 1% (v/v) olive oil, 30 °C growth temperature and 4% inoculum volume (v/v). Further optimization by FCCCD was revealed 1.7 folds improvement in the halophilic lipase production from 0.603 U ml-1 to 1.0307 U ml-1 . Functional and biochemical characterizations displayed that the lipase was significantly active and stable in the pH ranges of 7.0-9.5, temperature (30-50 °C), and NaCl concentration (0-21%). The lipase was maximally active at pH 8.0, 12% (w/v) NaCl, and 50 °C temperature. Besides, M. litoralis SW-45 lipase was found to possess the promising industrial potential to be utilized as a biocatalyst for the esterification.
Nanofiber membrane chromatography integrates liquid membrane chromatography and nanofiber filtration into a single-step purification process. Nanofiber membrane can be functionalised with affinity ligands for promoting binding specificity of membrane. Dye molecules are a good affinity ligand for nanofiber membrane due to their low cost and high binding affinity. In this study, a dye-affinity nanofiber membrane (P-Chitosan-Dye membrane) was prepared by using polyacrylonitrile nanofiber membrane modified with chitosan molecules and immobilized with dye molecules. Reactive Orange 4, commercially known as Procion Orange MX2R, was found to be the best dye ligand for membrane chromatography. The binding capacity of P-Chitosan-Dye membrane for lysozyme was investigated under different operating conditions in batch mode. Furthermore, desorption of lysozyme using the P-Chitosan-Dye membrane was evaluated systematically. The recovery percentage of lysozyme was found to be ~100%. The optimal conditions obtained from batch-mode study were adopted to develop a purification process to separate lysozyme from chicken egg white. The process was operated continuously using the membrane chromatography and the characteristic of the breakthrough curve was evaluated. At a lower flow rate (i.e., 0.1 mL/min), the total recovery of lysozyme and purification factor of lysozyme were 98.59% and 56.89 folds, respectively.
Numerous protocols to establish dopaminergic phenotype in SH-SY5Y cells have been reported. In most of these protocols there are variations in concentration of serum used. In this paper, we compared the effects of high (10%), low (3%) and descending (2.5%/1%) serum concentration in differentiation medium containing different proportion of retinoic acid (RA) and 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or RA-only on the undifferentiated SH-SY5Y cells with regards to cell morphology, biochemical and gene expression alterations. Cells differentiated in culture medium containing low and descending serum concentrations showed increased number of neurite projections and reduced proliferation rates when compared to undifferentiated cells. The SH-SY5Y cells differentiated in culture medium containing 3% RA and low serum or descending (2.5%/1% RA/TPA) were found to be more susceptible to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced cytotoxicity. Cells differentiated with RA/TPA or RA differentiated showed increased production of the α-synuclein (SNCA) neuroprotein and dopamine neurotransmitter compared to undifferentiated cells, regardless serum concentrations used. There was no significant difference in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene between undifferentiated and differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. However, the expression of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) gene was markedly increased (p<0.05) in differentiated cells with 3% serum and RA only when compared to undifferentiated cells. In conclusion, to terminally differentiate SH-SY5Y cells to be used as a cell-based model to study Parkinson's disease (PD) to investigate molecular mechanisms and drug discovery, the optimal differentiation medium should contain 3% serum in RA-only.
For the very first time, the nutritional and physicochemical properties of the oil extracted from hackberry Celtis australis fruit were investigated with the aim of possible applications of such wild fruit oil. The physicochemical properties such as peroxide value, acidity, saponification, iodine value and total fat content of the extracted oil were examined extensively. The obtained results showed that peroxide value, acidity, saponification, iodine value and total fat content of the extracted oil were found to be 4.9 meq O2/kg fat, 0.9 mg KOH/g fat, 193.6 mg KOH/g fat, 141.52 mg I2/g fat and ~5%, respectively. The predominant fatty acid found in this wild fruit is linoleic acid which was calculated to be 73.38%±1.24. In addition, gamma-tocopherol (87%) and β-sitosterol (81.2%±1.08) were the major tocopherol and sterol compositions found in Celtis australis seed oil. Moreover, equivalent carbon number (ECN) analysis has indicated that the three linoleic acids are the main composition of the triacylglycerols extracted from Celtis australis. Also, the high value of omega 6 and β-sitosterol make this oil applicable in cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications.
Chitosan (CS) was physically modified with fly ash (FA) powder and subjected to chemical cross-linking reaction with tripolyphosphate (TPP) to produce a cross-linked CS-TPP/FA composite as adsorbent for removal of reactive orange 120 (RR120) dye. Different ratios of FA such as 25% FA particles (CS-TPP/FA-25) and 50% FA particles (CS-TPP/FA-50) were loaded into the molecular structure of CS-TPP. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was applied to optimize the input variables that affected the synthesis of the adsorbent and the adsorption of RR120 dye. These variables included FA loading (A: 0-50%), adsorbent dose (B: 0.04-0.1 g), solution pH (C: 4-10), temperature (D: 30 °C-60 °C), and time (E: 30-90 min). Results revealed that the highest removal (88.8%) of RR120 dye was achieved by CS-TPP/FA-50 at adsorbent dosage of 0.07 g, solution of pH 4, temperature of 45 °C, and time of 60 min. The adsorption equilibrium was described by the Freundlich model, with 165.8 mg/g at 45 °C as the maximum adsorption capacity of CS-TPP/FA-50 for RR120 dye. This work introduces CS-TPP/FA-50 as an ideal composite adsorbent for removal of textile dyes from the aqueous environment.
Approximately 900 tonne of crude palm oil (CPO) underwent washing using 5 to 10% hot water (90 to 95°C) at a palm oil mill. The aim of the CPO washing was to eliminate and/or reduce total chlorine content present in the conventional CPO, as it is known as the main precursor for the formation of 3-monochloropropane-1, 2-diol esters (3-MCPDE). By a simple hot water washing, more than 85% of the total chlorine was removed. However, washing did not have significant (p > 0.05) effect on other oil quality parameters such as the deterioration of bleachability index (DOBI), free fatty acid (FFA) content and diacylglycerol (DAG) content of the oil. The latter has been established as the main precursor for glycidyl esters (GE) formation. The treated CPO was then transported using tankers and further refined at a commercial refinery. Refining of washed CPO resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) lower formation of 3-MCPDE, but GE content remained slightly high. Post-treatment of refined oil significantly reduced the GE content (p < 0.05) to an acceptable level whilst almost maintaining the low 3-MCPDE level. The study has proven that water washing of CPO prior to refining and subsequent post-refining is so far the most effective way to produce good quality refined oil with considerably low 3-MCPDE and GE contents. Dry fractionation of refined palm oil showed these contaminants partitioned more into the liquid olein fraction compared to the stearin fraction.
Palm-pressed mesocarp oil has been found to contain plenty of naturally occurring valuable phytonutrients. The application and study of the oil are limited, therefore, quality assessment of refined red palm-pressed mesocarp olein (PPMO) is deemed necessary to provide data in widening the applications as a niche products or raw material for the nutraceutical industry. Results showed that refined PPMO has comparable physicochemical properties and oxidative stability with commercial cooking oil, palm olein (PO). The food safety parameters and contaminants (PAH, 3-MCPD ester, 2-MCPD ester, glycidyl ester and trace metals) analyses proven that refined PPMO is safe to be consumed. Besides, refined PPMO contains remarkably greater concentrations of phytonutrients including carotenoids, phytosterols, squalene and vitamin E than PO, postulating its protective health benefits. The overall quality assessment of refined PPMO showed that it is suitable for human consumption and it is a good source for food applications and dietary nutritional supplements.
Biphenyl-based compounds are clinically important for the treatments of hypertension and inflammatory, while many more are under development for pharmaceutical uses. In the present study, a series of 2-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2-oxoethyl benzoates, 2(a-q), and 2-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2-oxoethyl pyridinecarboxylate, 2(r-s) were synthesized by reacting 1-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2-bromoethan-1-one with various carboxylic acids using potassium carbonate in dimethylformamide at ambient temperature. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed a more closely packed crystal structure can be produced by introduction of biphenyl moiety. Five of the compounds among the reported series exhibited significant anti-tyrosinase activities, in which 2p, 2r and 2s displayed good inhibitions which are comparable to standard inhibitor kojic acid at concentrations of 100 and 250 μg/mL. The inhibitory effects of these active compounds were further confirmed by computational molecular docking studies and the results revealed the primary binding site is active-site entrance instead of inner copper binding site which acted as the secondary binding site.